Protective member, tube mounting structure, and method for mounting a tube

The present invention relates to a protective member to prevent a crush of an end section of a corrugated tube, a tube mounting structure using such a protective member, and a method of mounting a tube.

Conventionally, a corrugated tube is widely used as a member for protecting a wiring harness while keeping flexibility of the wiring harness. The corrugated tube is used while the wiring harness is inserted into an inside of the corrugated tube. Sometimes an end section of the corrugated tube is fitted into and mounted on a hard tubular protector protecting solidly the wiring harness extending from the end section (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1). An inner periphery of such a protector is often provided with an inner peripheral rib inserted into an outer peripheral annular concave section at an end section of the corrugated tube. Such an inner peripheral rib works as a retainer of the end section of the corrugated tube.

Here, the corrugated tube is made of flexible resin. Further, a slit for receiving a wiring harness thereinside sometimes extends in an axial direction. Owing to these, the corrugated tube may be easy to be crashed. As a result, the end section of the corrugated tube mounted on the protector may be crashed due to a force generated when the wiring harness is bent or the like, and the outer peripheral annular concave section may be uncoupled from the inner peripheral rib, and released from the protector.

Therefore, upon mounting on the protector, a technique is proposed that a hard protective member is applied to the end section of the corrugated tube to prevent the end section from being crashed (for example, refer to Patent Literature 2).

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2011-244650 A

Patent Literature 2: JP 2010-220361 A

Technical Problem

In the technique described in Patent Literature 2, for preventing the protective member mounted on the end section of the corrugated tube from falling out, a structure for fixing the protective member to the corrugated tube by winding a tape or the like is provided. Thereby, a protector mounted on the end section of the corrugated tube tends to become large for receiving such a fixing structure.

Further, a worker may cut out the corrugated tube to use, and a length of the corrugated tube is often varied. In the technique described in Patent Literature 2, an outer diameter of the protective member becomes larger than an outer diameter of the corrugated tube. When the length of the corrugated tube is varied as described above, a position where the protective member is received in an interior of the protector is also varied. Because the outer diameter of the protective member is large as described above, it is necessary to have a margin in an inside space of the protector for receiving the protective member at any position. On this point also, in the technique described in Patent Literature 2, the protector tends to be large.

Accordingly, in view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a protective member able to prevent a protector from being large-sized, and to prevent a crush of an end section of a corrugated tube, a tube mounting structure using such a protective member, and a method of mounting a tube.

Solution to Problem

For solving the problems above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective member including:

a tubular section fitted into an end section of a corrugated tube, and harder than the corrugated tube; and

an outer peripheral rib formed so as to extend in a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of the tubular section, and inserted into an inner peripheral annular concave section at the end section of the corrugated tube.

For solving the problems above, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tube mounting structure for mounting a corrugated tube on a tubular protector by fitting an end section of the corrugated tube, into which a wiring harness is inserted, into the protector,

wherein at least one row of an inner peripheral rib extending in an inner circumference direction is formed on an inner periphery of the protector,

wherein the end section of the corrugated tube is mounted on the protector such that the inner peripheral rib is inserted into an outer peripheral annular concave section at the end section, and

wherein the protective member according to the first aspect is fitted into the end section of the corrugated tube while the wiring harness is inserted into an inside of the protective member.

For solving the problems above, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for mounting a tube by fitting an end section of a corrugated tube, into which a wiring harness is inserted, into a tubular protector,

wherein at least one row of an inner peripheral rib extending in an inner circumference direction is formed on an inner periphery of the protector,

said method including:

a first step of inserting the wiring harness into an inside of a protective member having a tubular section harder than the corrugated tube and an outer peripheral rib formed so as to extend in a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of the tubular section;

a second step of inserting the wiring harness into an inside of the corrugated tube and fitting the protective tube into the end section such that the outer peripheral rib is inserted into an inner peripheral annular concave section at the end section of the corrugated tube; and

a third step of mounting the end section of the corrugated tube on the protector such that the inner peripheral rib is inserted into an outer peripheral annular concave section at the end section,

wherein the tubular section of the protective member includes: a plurality of tube portions arranged in the circumferential direction; and a hinge section joining end edges adjacent to each other of the plurality of tube portions other than both ends of the arranged end edges, the tubular section is openable and closable such that both end edges are moved close to and away from each other, the outer peripheral rib is a collectivity of rib portions as a part of a ring extending in the circumferential direction, and

wherein the first step is the step of inserting the wiring harness into an inside of the protective member such that after the wiring harness is arranged inside of the protective member while the protective member is open and both end edges are away from each other, the protective member is closed.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, the hard tubular section prevents the end section of the corrugated tube from being crashed. Further, by fitting the outer peripheral rib into the inner peripheral annular concave section at the end section of the corrugated tube, the protective member is also prevented from falling out of the end section of the corrugated tube. Further, because the protective member having such prevention effects is a member received in an interior of the end section of the corrugated tube, it is unnecessary to provide a new space in the interior of the protector where the end section of the corrugated tube is mounted, and the protector is prevented from being large-sized. In this way, according to the present invention, the protector is prevented from being large-sized, while a crush of the end section of the corrugated tube is prevented.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wiring harness protective structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inside of a main body section by removing a cover of a protector in the wiring harness protective structure of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a tube mounting structure in the wiring harness protective structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII in FIG. 2 showing the tube mounting structure in the wiring harness protective structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 ;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 , showing a state that an end section of a corrugated tube is positioned at the most exit side of a protector within a position range of the end section of the corrugated tube where an outer peripheral rib of an inner member and an inner peripheral rib of the protector interfere with each other;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 , showing a state that the end section of the corrugated tube is positioned at the most mounting opening side of the protector within the position range of the end section of the corrugated tube where an outer peripheral rib of an inner member and an inner peripheral rib of the protector interfere with each other;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an inner member of FIGS. 2 to 6 ;

FIG. 8 is a three-sided view showing the inner member of FIGS. 2 to 6 ;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the inner member of which tubular section is open showing from an arrow V 12 and a top view showing from an arrow V 13 of FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line V 14 -V 14 of FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an inner member according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a three-sided view showing the inner member of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the inner member of which tubular section is open showing from an arrow V 22 and a top view showing from an arrow V 23 of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line V 24 -V 24 of FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an inner member according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a three-sided view showing the inner member of FIG. 15 ;

FIG. 17 is a front view of the inner member of which tubular section is open showing from an arrow V 32 and a top view showing from an arrow V 33 of FIG. 15 ; and

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken on line V 34 -V 34 of FIG. 17 .

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wiring harness protective structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

A wiring harness protective structure 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a structure for protecting a wiring harness W 11 mounted on a vehicle, and includes a corrugated tube 11 and a protector 12 . The corrugated tube 11 is a resin-made bellows-shaped flexible tube, and protects a flexibility-secured portion of the wiring harness W 11 . The corrugated tube 11 is mounted by fitting an end section of the corrugated tube 11 into the protector 12 while the wiring harness W 11 is inserted into the corrugated tube 11 . The protector 12 is a resin-made hard rectangular-tubular member for protecting solidly the wiring harness W 11 , and protects a bent-unnecessary portion of the wiring harness W 11 . In this embodiment, the protector 12 includes a main body section 12 - 1 and a cover section 12 - 2 .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inside of a main body section by removing a cover of a protector in the wiring harness protective structure of FIG. 1 . Hereinafter, the protector 12 and the main body section 12 - 1 are not distinguished specifically unless otherwise noted, and described referred to as protector 12 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the wiring harness protective structure 1 includes an inner member 13 in addition to the corrugated tube 11 and the protector 12 . The inner member 13 is a resin-made protective member fitted into an end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 mounted on the protector 12 and prevents a crush of the end section 11 a.

In this wiring harness protective structure 1 , a tube mounting structure for fitting the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 , into which the wiring harness W 11 is inserted, into the tubular protector 12 to mount the corrugated tube 11 on the protector 12 is as follows.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a tube mounting structure in the wiring harness protective structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 . Further, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII in FIG. 2 showing the tube mounting structure in the wiring harness protective structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 .

In a tube mounting structure 1 a of the wiring harness protective structure 1 , three rows of inner peripheral ribs 122 extending in an inner circumferential direction D 11 are arranged in an axial direction D 12 on an inner periphery 121 of the protector 12 . Further, a stopper rib 123 for stopping the corrugated tube 11 so that the corrugated tube 11 is prevented from getting out from an exit 12 b is formed near the exit 12 b of the wiring harness W 11 opposite to the mounting opening 12 a for mounting the corrugated tube 11 .

The end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is attached to a mounting opening 12 a side of the protector 12 so that the inner peripheral rib 121 of the protector is inserted into an outer peripheral annular concave section 111 of the end section 11 a.

Further, a pitch between the two rows of inner peripheral ribs 122 of the three inner peripheral ribs near the mounting opening 12 a corresponds to a pitch of the outer peripheral annular concave sections 111 of the corrugated tube 11 . In other words, an interval between these two rows of inner peripheral ribs 122 is an interval therebetween into which an outer peripheral annular convex section 112 of the corrugated tube 11 is inserted. Further, an interval between these two rows of inner peripheral ribs 122 and the one inner peripheral rib 122 near the exit 12 b is an interval therebetween into which two outer peripheral annular convex sections 112 are inserted.

Here, the inner member 13 for preventing a crash of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 includes a tubular section 131 , an outer peripheral rib 132 , and an exit flange 133 . The tubular section 131 is a tubular section harder than the corrugated tube 11 and to be fitted into the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 . The outer peripheral rib 132 is formed so as to extend in an inner circumferential direction D 13 on an outer periphery 131 - 1 of the tubular section 131 , and is inserted into an inner peripheral annular concave section 113 at the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 . In this embodiment, two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 132 are arranged side by side in an axial direction D 14 of the tubular section 131 . The exit flange 133 is a flange section of which diameter is larger than an inner diameter of an opening 11 a - 1 of the corrugated tube 11 , and exposed outside from the opening 11 a - 1 when the inner member 13 is fitted into the corrugated tube 11 .

A pitch of the outer peripheral ribs 132 corresponds to a pitch of the inner peripheral annular concave sections 113 of the corrugated tube 11 . In other words, one inner peripheral annular convex section 114 of the corrugated tube 11 is inserted into a gap between two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 132 , namely, one inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 is inserted into the gap between two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 132 . In this embodiment, the inner member 13 is fitted into the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 such that these two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 132 are inserted into the two rows of the inner peripheral annular concave sections 113 which are first and second numbered from the opening 11 a - 1 side.

Further, an interval between the outer peripheral rib 132 near the exit flange 133 and the exit flange 133 is an interval into which one inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 is inserted.

Further, as shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 4 , when the outer peripheral rib 132 is inserted into the inner peripheral annular concave section 113 , both of an opening side surface 132 - 1 oriented toward the opening 11 a - 1 of the corrugated tube 11 and an opposite side surface 132 - 2 oriented toward the opposite side are sloped surfaces. Further, the opposite side surface 132 - 2 is a slope gentler than the opening side surface 132 - 1 .

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , two rows of the inner peripheral annular concave sections 113 , into which the outer peripheral ribs 132 of the inner member 13 are inserted, are inserted into a gap between the inner peripheral rib 122 at the exit 12 b side and the next inner peripheral rib 122 . One row of the inner peripheral rib 122 at the exit 12 b side of the protector 12 is inserted into a gap between the exit flange 133 and the outer peripheral rib 132 next to the exit flange 133 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , with regard to a drop direction D 15 where the corrugated tube 11 is dropped out from the mounting opening 12 a of the protector 12 , the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 and the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 are in a positional relationship as follows. Namely, in the drop direction D 15 , the positional relationship is to hold an outer wall of the corrugated tube 11 in between the inner peripheral rib 122 in the center row of the protector 12 and the outer peripheral rib 132 nearest the mounting opening 12 a of the inner member 13 . When a force is applied to the corrugated tube 11 in the drop direction D 15 , the above outer peripheral rib 132 interferes with this inner peripheral rib 122 while holding the outer wall of the corrugated tube 11 in between the outer peripheral rib 132 and the inner peripheral rib 122 . Then, in addition to the hard tubular section 131 of the inner member 13 preventing a crash of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 , a drop of the corrugated tube 11 is prevented.

Here, a worker may cut out the corrugated tube 11 to use, and a length of the corrugated tube 11 is often varied. In this embodiment, a not-shown end section of the corrugated tube 11 opposite to the protector 12 is fixed to a predetermined structure as a reference end, and the protector 12 is fixed to the other structure. Therefore, when the length of the corrugated tube 11 is varied, a position of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 in the axial direction D 12 is varied in an interior of the protector 12 . In this embodiment, as long as the position of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is varied within a range explained as follows, the interference between the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 and the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 like above is established, and the drop is prevented.

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing a state that the end section of the corrugated tube is positioned nearest the exit of the protector within the positional range of the end section of the corrugated tube where the interference between the outer peripheral rib of the inner member and the inner peripheral rib of the protector is established. This embodiment of FIG. 5 corresponds to a case that the length of the corrugated tube 11 is the longest within the range that interference between the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 and the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 is established.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , the positional relationship is such that the outer wall of the corrugated tube 11 is held between the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 nearest the exit 12 b and the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 nearest the mounting opening 12 a . When a force is applied to the corrugated tube 11 in the drop direction D 15 , the above outer peripheral rib 132 interferes with the inner peripheral rib 122 nearest the exit 12 b while holding the outer wall of the corrugated tube 11 in between the outer peripheral rib 132 and this inner peripheral rib 122 .

Further, in this embodiment, when the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is positioned like above, the stopper rib 123 of the protector 12 is provided at a position where the exit flange 133 of the inner member 13 abuts on the stopper rib 123 . Namely, a gap between the inner peripheral rib 122 nearest the exit 12 b and the stopper rib 123 of the protector 12 is a gap into which all of the outer peripheral ribs 132 and the exit flange 133 of the inner member 13 are inserted.

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing a state that the end section of the corrugated tube is positioned nearest the mounting opening of the protector within the positional range of the end section of the corrugated tube where the interference between the outer peripheral rib of the inner member and the inner peripheral rib of the protector is established. This embodiment of FIG. 6 corresponds to a case that the length of the corrugated tube 11 is the shortest within the range that interference between the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 and the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 is established.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6 , the positional relationship is such that the outer wall of the corrugated tube 11 is held between the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 nearest the mounting opening 12 a and the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 nearest the exit 12 b . When a force is applied to the corrugated tube 11 in the drop direction D 15 , the above outer peripheral rib 132 interferes with the inner peripheral rib 122 nearest the mounting opening 12 a while holding the outer wall of the corrugated tube 11 in between the outer peripheral rib 132 and this inner peripheral rib 122 .

In this embodiment, when a variation of the position of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 in the axial direction D 12 is within a range between the position shown in FIG. 5 and the position shown in FIG. 6 , the drop of the corrugated tube 11 is prevented due to the interference above.

Next, the inner member 13 in this embodiment will be described in further detail.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inner member shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 , and FIG. 8 is a three-sided view showing the inner member of FIGS. 2 to 6 .

In the inner member 13 of this embodiment, the tubular section 131 includes: two tube portions 131 a arranged in the circumferential direction D 13 ; and a hinge section 131 b joining end edges 131 a - 2 adjacent to each other of the two tube portions 131 a other than both ends of the arranged end edges 131 a - 1 . This tubular section 131 is openable and closable such that both end edges 131 a - 1 are moved close to and away from each other. FIG. 7 shows a closed state of the tubular section 131 and an open state of the tubular section 131 arranged side by side.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the inner member of which tubular section is open showing from an arrow V 12 and a top view showing from an arrow V 13 of FIG. 7 . Further, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line V 14 -V 14 of FIG. 9 .

In the inner member 13 , the outer peripheral rib 132 is a collectivity of two rib portions 132 a each as a part of a ring extending in the circumferential direction D 13 . Each rib portion 132 a is provided on an outer periphery 131 a - 3 of each of two tube portions 131 a . Similarly, the exit flange 133 is a collectivity of two flange portions 133 a each as a part of a ring extending in the circumferential direction D 13 . Each flange portion 133 is provided on a front end of each of two tube portions 131 a.

In this inner member 13 , a connection convex section 131 c projects from each end edge 131 a - 1 moved close to and away from each other as described above of the two tube portions 131 a toward mating end edge 131 a - 1 . Further, the end edge 131 a - 1 of each tube portion 131 a is provided with a connection concave section 131 d for receiving and connecting the connection convex section 131 c from mating end edge 131 a - 1 . The connection convex section 131 c and the connection concave section 131 d are arranged side by side in the axial direction D 14 on the end edge 131 a - 1 of each tube portion 131 a . Further, the connection convex section 131 c and the connection concave section 131 d are arranged in a staggered manner in between two tube portions 131 a.

Further, as shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 9 , a resin of the hinge section 131 b coupling two tube portions 131 a is formed thinner than the tube portion 131 a , and owning to this thinness, two tube portions 131 a are coupled openably and closably.

Further, in this embodiment, one end side as the mating tube portion 131 a side of the rib portion 132 a of each of the pair of tube portions 131 a is a projecting section 132 a - 1 intersecting with the hinge section 131 b . Further, each tube portion 131 a is provided with a through hole 131 a through which the projecting section 132 a - 1 of the mating tube portion 131 a passes toward an inner periphery 131 a - 4 side when the pair of tube portions 131 a is open. The rib portion 132 a is provided so as to extend from around an edge of the through hole 131 e opposite to the mating tube portion 131 a.

Further, the through hole 131 e with the rib portion 132 a extending from the through hole 131 e and the rib portion 132 a of which the projecting section 132 a - 1 projects toward the mating tube portion 131 a are arranged side by side in the axial direction D 14 on the outer periphery 131 a - 3 of each tube portion 131 a . Further, these two rib portions 132 a in the axial direction D 14 is arranged in a staggered manner in between the pair of tube portions 131 a.

Further, in this embodiment, when such an inner member 13 is integrally molded with resin, molding dies corresponding to a shape of the inner member 13 of which tubular section 131 is open as shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 10 are used. By molding with the inner member 13 in the open shape, the molding is performed by stripping the molding dies successfully in a vertical direction of each figure.

In the wiring harness protective structure 1 having the tube mounting structure 1 a using such an inner member 13 , with a method for mounting a tube following a procedure described below, the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is fitted into and mounted on the protector 12 .

In this method for mounting a tube, firstly, a first step in which the wiring harness W 11 is inserted into an inside of the inner member 13 is performed. In this embodiment, this first step is the step in which the wiring harness W 11 is inserted into an inside of the inner member 13 by arranging the wiring harness W 11 in the inside of the opened inner member 13 , then closing the inner member 13 . When closing the inner member 13 , by inserting and coupling the connection convex section 131 c of each tube portion 131 a into the connection concave section 131 d of the mating tube portion 131 a , the tubular section 131 becomes in a stable tubular shape.

Next to the first step, a second step in which the wiring harness W 11 is inserted into an inside of the corrugated tube 11 , and the inner member 13 is fitted into the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube is performed. This fitting of the inner member 13 is performed such that the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 is inserted into the inner peripheral annular concave section 113 at the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 .

Lastly, a third step in which the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is mounted on the protector 12 such that the inner peripheral rib 122 is inserted into the outer peripheral annular concave section 111 at the end section 11 a is performed. After this third step, the method for mounting a tube is terminated, and the wiring harness protective structure 1 having the tube mounting structure 1 a is completed.

According to the wiring harness protective structure 1 , the tube mounting structure 1 a , and the method for mounting a tube as described above, a crash of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is prevented by the hard tubular section 131 . Further, by inserting the outer peripheral rib 132 into the inner peripheral annular concave section 113 , a drop of the inner member 13 from the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is also prevented. Further, the inner member 13 providing these prevention effects is received in an inside of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 . Thereby, it is unnecessary to provide a new space in the interior of the protector 12 where the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is mounted, and the protector 12 is prevented from being large-sized. In this way, according to this embodiment, the protector 12 is prevented from being large-sized, while a crush of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is prevented.

Then, the crash prevention effect and the interference between the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 and the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 while the outer wall of the corrugated tube is held therebetween are coupled to prevent successfully a drop of the corrugated tube 11 from the protector 12 .

Here, in this embodiment, two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 132 of the inner member 13 are arranged side by side in an axial direction D 14 of the tubular section 131 . Because two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 132 are respectively inserted into the inner peripheral annular concave sections 113 of the corrugated tube 11 , a drop of the inner member 13 from the corrugated tube 11 is further prevented. Further, in this embodiment, two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 132 , allowing the inner peripheral ribs 122 of the protector 12 to interfere, exist in the drop direction D 15 of the corrugated tube 11 . Thereby, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the positional range of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 where the interference between the outer peripheral rib 132 of the inner member 13 and the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 is established can be set wider than a case that the number of the outer peripheral ribs 132 is one row.

Further, in this embodiment, the tubular portion 131 is openable and closable with two tube portions 131 a and the hinge section 131 b . Further, the outer peripheral rib 132 is the collectivity of rib portions 132 a provided respectively on the two tube portions 131 . In this way, because the tubular portion 131 is openable and closable, the wiring harness W 11 to be received in the corrugated tube 11 with the inner member 13 can easily pass into the inner member 13 .

Further, in this embodiment, both end edges 131 a - 1 , which are moved close to and away from each other upon open/close of the tubular portion 131 , are respectively provided with the connection convex section 131 c moved toward the mating end edge 131 a - 1 , and the connection concave section 131 d receiving and coupling the connection convex section 131 c of the mating end edge 131 a - 1 . Because the inner member 13 after inserting the wiring harness W 11 can firmly keep the tubular shape by the coupling of the connection convex section 131 c and the connection concave section 131 d , a crash of the inner member 13 is also prevented. Thereby, a crash of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is further prevented.

Further, in this embodiment, the mating tube portion 131 a side of the rib portion 132 a of each of the pair of tube portions 131 a , where the end edges 131 a - 2 are coupled together with the hinge portion 131 b , is a projecting section 132 a - 1 intersecting with the hinge section 131 b . Further, each tube portion 131 a is provided with a through hole 131 a through which the projecting section 132 a - 1 passes toward an inner periphery 131 a - 4 side when the pair of tube portions 131 a is open, and the rib portion 132 a is provided so as to extend from around an edge of the through hole 131 e . In this embodiment, by providing the above through hole 131 e , the projecting section 132 a - 1 is arranged so as to intersect with the hinge section 131 b , and the rib portion 132 a can extend long. Thereby, a total length of the outer peripheral rib 132 as the collectivity of the rib portions 132 a , namely, an insertion length of the corrugated tube 11 into the inner peripheral annular concave section 113 can be long so that the drop of the inner member 13 from the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is further prevented. Further, by extending the total length of the outer peripheral rib 132 , the interference length with the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 is extended, and the drop of the corrugated tube 11 from the protector 12 is also further prevented.

Further, in the inner member 13 of this embodiment, by providing the above through hole 131 e , the pair of tubular portions 131 a can be in a good open shape without interfering with each other. Generally, when resin molding an annular member openable and closable with a hinge section, a molding die corresponding to an open shape is often used. According to this embodiment, because the inner member 13 can be in a good open shape, molding dies corresponding to the inner member 13 in the open shape can be used as described above. Then, by molding the inner member 13 in the open shape, the molding can be performed by stripping the molding dies successfully in a vertical direction of FIGS. 7, 9, and 10 .

Further, the through hole 131 e with the rib portion 132 a extending from the through hole 131 e and the rib portion 132 a of which the projecting section 132 a - 1 projects toward the mating tube portion 131 a are arranged side by side in the axial direction D 14 on each tube portion 131 a . Namely, each tube portion 131 a is not provided with only the rib portions 132 a extending from the through hole 131 e , nor with only the rib portions 132 a having the projecting section 132 a - 1 . These two types of rib portions 132 a are arranged alternately on each tube portion 131 a . Further, these two rib portions 132 a in the axial direction D 14 is arranged in a staggered manner in between the pair of tube portions 131 a . Thereby, by providing two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 132 having a divisional structure like above, a drop of the inner member 13 is further prevented, and eventually, a drop of the corrugated tube 11 from the protector 12 is also further prevented. Further, by arranging the rib portion 132 a extending from the through hole 131 e and the rib portion 132 a of which the projecting section 132 a - 1 projects side by side on any one of the pair of tube portions 131 a , a strength reduction caused by the through hole 131 e in each tube portion 131 a can be dispersed. In this way, according to this embodiment, by preventing the strength reduction in each tube portion 131 a , the strength of the inner member 13 is improved, and a crash of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is further prevented.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, an embodiment providing two rows of the outer peripheral ribs having the divisional structure is exemplified. However, more than two rows of the outer peripheral ribs may be provided. In this case, preferably, the rib portion extending from the through hole and the rib portion of which the projecting section projects are arranged alternately in the axial direction. By such an alternate arrangement, a strength reduction caused by the through hole in each tube portion can be dispersed. Further, in this case also, preferably, these rib portions in the axial direction is arranged in a staggered manner in between the tube portions similar to this embodiment.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , the opposite side surface 132 - 2 opposite to the opening 11 a - 1 of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is a slope gentler than the opening side surface 132 - 1 . Thereby, a resistance upon pushing and fitting the inner member 13 from the opening 11 a - 1 of the corrugated tube 11 is reduced, and a good workability can be attained. On the other hand, because the opening side surface 132 - 1 is a slope steeper than the opposite side surface 132 - 2 , a drop of the corrugated tube 11 from the protector 12 is further prevented.

The explanation of the first embodiment has been completed, and next, a second embodiment will be explained. In this second embodiment, an inner member is different from the inner member 13 of the first embodiment. Whereas a tube mounting structure and a method for mounting a tube are similar to the tube mounting structure 1 a and the method for mounting a tube in the first embodiment described above. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be explained focused on the inner member as a different point from the first embodiment, and an overlapped explanation of the tube mounting structure and the method for mounting a tube similar to the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an inner member according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a three-sided view showing the inner member of FIG. 11 .

In an inner member 23 of this embodiment, a tubular section 231 has a shape in which two wide tube portions 231 a are arranged in a circumferential direction D 23 holding a narrow tube portion 231 b therebetween. Namely, the tubular section 231 has three tube portions different from the tubular portion 131 of the first embodiment described above. Further, two hinge sections 231 c are provided for coupling end edges 231 a - 2 , 231 b - 1 adjacent to each other in the wide tube portions 231 a and the narrow tube portion 231 b other than end edges 231 a - 1 of the wide tube portions 231 a positioned at both ends of the arrangement. The tubular section 231 of this embodiment is openable and closable such that the end edges 231 a - 1 of the two wide tube portions 231 a are moved close to and away from each other. FIG. 11 shows a closed state of the tubular section 231 and an open state of the tubular section 231 arranged side by side.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the inner member of which tubular section is open showing from an arrow V 22 and a top view showing from an arrow V 23 of FIG. 11 , and FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line V 24 -V 24 of FIG. 13 .

In the inner rib 23 , each of two rows of the outer peripheral ribs 232 is a collectivity of three rib portions as a part of a ring extending in the circumferential direction D 23 . Namely, each outer peripheral rib 232 includes: two rib portions 232 a provided on outer peripheries 231 a - 3 of the two wide tube portions 231 a ; and a rib portion 232 b provided on an outer periphery 231 b - 3 of the narrow tube portion 231 b . Similarly, an exit flange 233 is also a collectivity of three flange portions as a part of a ring extending in the circumferential direction D 23 . Namely, the exit flange 233 includes: two flange portions 233 a provided on front ends of the two wide tube portions 231 a ; and a flange portion 233 b provided on a front end of the narrow tube portion 231 b.

Further, in this embodiment also, a shape of a side surface of each outer peripheral rib 232 is similar to the first embodiment. Namely, when the outer peripheral rib 232 is inserted into the inner peripheral annular concave section 113 (refer to FIG. 4 ), both of an opening side surface 232 - 1 oriented toward the opening 11 a - 1 of the corrugated tube 11 and an opposite side surface 232 - 2 oriented toward the opposite side are sloped surfaces. Further, the opposite side surface 232 - 2 is a slope gentler than the opening side surface 232 - 1 .

In this inner member 23 , a connection convex section 231 d projects from each end edge 231 a - 1 moved close to and away from each other as described above of the two wide tube portions 231 a toward mating end edge 231 a - 1 . Further, the end edge 231 a - 1 of each wide tube portion 231 a is provided with a connection concave section 231 e for receiving and connecting the connection convex section 231 d from mating end edge 231 a - 1 . The connection convex section 231 d and the connection concave section 231 e are arranged side by side in the axial direction D 24 on the end edge 231 a - 1 of each wide tube portion 231 a . Further, the connection convex section 231 d and the connection concave section 231 e are arranged in a staggered manner in between two wide tube portions 231 a.

Further, as shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 13 , a resin of the hinge section 231 c coupling the wide tube portion 231 a and the narrow tube portion 231 b is formed thinner than the tube portions 231 a , 231 b . Owning to this thinness, the hinge section 231 c couples the wide tube portion 231 a and the narrow tube portion 231 b openably and closably.

Further, in this embodiment, when such an inner member 23 is integrally molded with resin, molding dies corresponding to a shape of the inner member 23 of which tubular section 231 is open as shown in FIGS. 11, 13, and 14 are used. By molding with the inner member 23 in the open shape, the molding is performed by stripping the molding dies successfully in a vertical direction of each figure.

Further, in this step in which the wiring harness W 11 is inserted into the inner member 23 , similar to the first embodiment, the wiring harness W 11 is inserted into an inside of the inner member 23 by arranging the wiring harness W 11 in the inside of the opened inner member 13 , then closing the inner member 23 . Owing to such a step, the wiring harness W 11 can be easily inserted into an inside of the inner member 23 . Further, when closing the inner member 23 , by inserting and coupling the connection convex section 231 d of each wide tube portion 231 a into the connection concave section 231 e of the mating wide tube portion 231 a , the tubular section 231 becomes in a stable tubular shape.

In the second embodiment, owing to the inner member 23 described above, the tube mounting structure, and the tube mounting method using the inner member 23 similar to the first embodiment, the effects similar to the first embodiment can be attained. Namely, needless to say, in this second embodiment also, the protector 12 is prevented from being large-sized, while a crush of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is prevented.

Further, in this embodiment, as described above, the tubular section 231 has a shape in which two wide tube portions 231 a are arranged in a circumferential direction D 23 holding the narrow tube portion 231 b therebetween. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 14 , even when the inner member 23 is open, the outer peripheries 231 a - 3 , 231 a - b of the pair of tube portions positioned while holding the hinge section 231 c therebetween are open in some degree to each other. As a result, even in this open state, the rib portions 232 a , 232 b are prevented from interfering with each other around the hinge section 231 c . Therefore, the rib portions 232 a , 23 ab extending substantially the whole length in the circumferential direction D 23 can be formed on the two wire tube portions 231 a and the one narrow tube portion 231 b respectively.

In this embodiment, in this way, a total length of the outer peripheral rib 231 as the collectivity of the rib portions 232 a , 232 b , namely, an insertion length of the corrugated tube 11 to the inner peripheral annular concave section 113 is long. Thereby, the drop of the inner member 23 from the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is further prevented. Further, by extending the total length of the outer peripheral rib 232 , the interference length with the inner peripheral rib 122 of the protector 12 is extended, and the drop of the corrugated tube 11 from the protector 12 is also further prevented.

Further, in the inner member 23 of this embodiment, by dividing the tubular section 231 into three tube portions, the rib portions 232 a , 232 b are prevented from interfering with each other around the hinge section 231 c as described above, and the inner member can be in a good open shape. Thereby, similar to the first embodiment, molding dies corresponding to the inner member 23 in an open shape can be used. Then, by molding the inner member 23 in the open shape, the molding can be performed by stripping the molding dies successfully in a vertical direction of FIGS. 11, 13, and 14 .

The explanation of the second embodiment has been completed, and next, a third embodiment will be explained. In this third embodiment also, an inner member is different from the inner member 13 of the first embodiment. Whereas a tube mounting structure and a method for mounting a tube are similar to the tube mounting structure 1 a and the method for mounting a tube in the first embodiment described above. Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be also explained focused on the inner member as a different point from the first embodiment, and an overlapped explanation of the tube mounting structure and the method for mounting a tube similar to the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an inner member according to a third embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a three-sided view showing the inner member of FIG. 15 .

In the inner member 33 of this embodiment, the tubular section 331 includes: two tube portions 331 a arranged in the circumferential direction D 33 ; and a hinge section 331 b joining end edges 331 a - 2 adjacent to each other of the two tube portions 331 a other than both ends of the arranged end edges 331 a - 1 . This tubular section 331 is openable and closable such that both end edges 331 a - 1 are moved close to and away from each other. FIG. 15 shows a closed state of the tubular section 331 and an open state of the tubular section 331 arranged side by side.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the inner member of which tubular section is open showing from an arrow V 32 and a top view showing from an arrow V 33 of FIG. 15 , and FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken on line V 34 -V 34 of FIG. 17 .

In the inner member 33 , the outer peripheral rib 332 is a collectivity of two rib portions 332 a each as a part of a ring extending in the circumferential direction D 33 . Each rib portion 332 a is provided on an outer periphery 331 a - 3 of each of two tube portions 331 a . Similarly, the exit flange 333 is a collectivity of two flange portions 333 a each as a part of a ring extending in the circumferential direction D 33 . Each flange portion 333 is provided on a front end of each of two tube portions 331 a.

Further, in this embodiment also, a shape of a side surface of each outer peripheral rib 332 is similar to the first embodiment. Namely, when the outer peripheral rib 332 is inserted into the inner peripheral annular concave section 113 (refer to FIG. 4 ), both of an opening side surface 332 - 1 oriented toward the opening 11 a - 1 of the corrugated tube 11 and an opposite side surface 332 - 2 oriented toward the opposite side are sloped surfaces. Further, the opposite side surface 332 - 2 is a slope gentler than the opening side surface 332 - 1 .

In this inner member 33 , a connection convex section 331 c projects from each end edge 331 a - 1 moved close to and away from each other as described above of the two tube portions 331 a toward mating end edge 331 a - 1 . Further, the end edge 331 a - 1 of each tube portion 331 a is provided with a connection concave section 331 d for receiving and connecting the connection convex section 331 c from mating end edge 331 a - 1 . The connection convex section 331 c and the connection concave section 331 d are arranged side by side in the axial direction D 34 on the end edge 331 a - 1 of each tube portion 331 a . Further, the connection convex section 331 c and the connection concave section 331 d are arranged in a staggered manner in between two tube portions 331 a.

Further, as shown in enlarged views of FIGS. 17 and 18 , a resin of the hinge section 331 b coupling two tube portions 331 a is formed thinner than the tube portion 331 a , and owning to this thinness, two tube portions 331 a are coupled openably and closably.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 18 , in each rib portion 332 a of the two tube portions 331 a , a rib height H 31 within a predetermined range A 31 from the hinge section 331 b is formed lower than a rib height H 32 without the predetermined range A 31 . Its low degree is an extent that two tube portions 332 a does not interfere with each other when opening the two tube portions 332 a . A shape of the rib portion 332 a within the predetermined range A 31 is a tapered shape such that the rib height H 31 is gradually decreased as approaching the hinge section 331 b.

Further, in this embodiment, when such an inner member 33 is integrally molded with resin, molding dies corresponding to a shape of the inner member 33 of which tubular section 331 is open as shown in FIGS. 15, 17, and 18 are used. By molding with the inner member 33 in the open shape, the molding is performed by stripping the molding dies successfully in a vertical direction of each figure.

Further, in this step in which the wiring harness W 11 is inserted into the inner member 33 , similar to the first embodiment, the wiring harness W 11 is inserted into an inside of the inner member 33 by arranging the wiring harness W 11 in the inside of the opened inner member 33 , then closing the inner member 33 . Owing to such a step, the wiring harness W 11 can be easily inserted into an inside of the inner member 33 . Further, when closing the inner member 33 , by inserting and coupling the connection convex section 331 d of each tube portion 331 a into the connection concave section 331 e of the mating tube portion 331 a , the tubular section 331 becomes in a stable tubular shape.

In the third embodiment, owing to the inner member 33 described above, the tube mounting structure, and the tube mounting method using the inner member 33 similar to the first embodiment, the effects similar to the first embodiment can be attained. Namely, needless to say, in this third embodiment also, the protector 12 is prevented from being large-sized, while a crush of the end section 11 a of the corrugated tube 11 is prevented.

Further, in this embodiment, in each rib portion 332 a of the outer peripheries 331 a - 3 of the two tube portions 331 a , a rib height H 31 within a predetermined range A 31 from the hinge section 331 b is formed low as described above. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 15, 17, and 18 , the pair of tube portions 331 a can be in a good open shape without interfering with each other. Thereby, similar to the first embodiment, molding dies corresponding to the inner member 33 in an open shape can be used. Then, by molding the inner member 33 in the open shape, the molding can be performed by stripping the molding dies successfully in a vertical direction of FIGS. 15, 17, and 18 .

Incidentally, the first to third embodiments described above only indicate typical modes of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Namely, various modifications can be carried out within a scope of the present invention. As long as including the configurations of the protective member, tube mounting structure, and method for mounting a tube of the present invention, these modifications are still included in a scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiments, the tube mounting structure 1 a in the wiring harness protective structure 1 for protecting the wiring harness W 11 mounted on a vehicle is exemplified as an example of the tube mounting structure of the present invention. Further, as an example of the method for mounting a tube, a method for mounting a tube by assembling such a tube mounting structure 1 a is exemplified. However, the tube mounting structure and a method for mounting a tube of the present invention are not limited to these, and specific application subjects are not asked.

Further, in the embodiments described above, as an example of a protector of the present invention, a rectangular tubular protector 12 is exemplified. However, a protector of the present invention is not limited to this. As long as a tubular protector, any specific shape can be set according to an installation condition.

Further, in the embodiments described above, as an example of a protective member of the present invention, the inner member 13 , 23 , 33 having tubular section 131 , 231 , 331 , openable and closable, divided to two or three tube portions are exemplified. However, the protective member of the present invention is not limited to these, and may include a non-divided tubular section, or may include a tubular section divided to more than three tube portions. However, by including divided tubular section openable and closable, an insertion operation of the wiring harness into an inside of the protective member becomes easy as described above.

Further, in the embodiments described above, as an example of a protective member of the present invention, the inner member 13 , 23 , 33 having two rows of outer peripheral ribs 132 , 232 , 332 are exemplified. However, the protective member of the present invention is not limited to these, and the specific arrangement of the outer peripheral ribs is not asked. However, by arranging a plurality of outer peripheral ribs, a drop of the protective member from the corrugated tube, a drop of the corrugated tube from the protector are successfully prevented as described above.

1 wiring harness protective structure

1 a tube mounting structure

11 corrugated tube

11 a end section

11 a - 1 opening

12 protector

12 a mounting opening

12 b exit

12 - 1 main body section

12 - 2 cap section

13 , 23 , 33 inner member (protective member)

111 outer peripheral annular concave section

112 outer peripheral annular convex section

113 inner peripheral annular concave section

114 inner peripheral annular convex section

121 inner periphery

122 inner peripheral rib

123 stopper rib

131 , 231 , 331 tubular section

131 a , 331 a tube portion

131 a - 1 , 131 a - 2 , 231 a - 1 , 231 a - 2 , 231 b - 1 , 331 a - 1 , 331 a - 2 end edge

131 - 1 , 131 a - 3 , 231 a - 3 , 231 b - 3 , 331 a - 3 outer periphery

131 a - 4 inner periphery

131 b , 231 c , 331 b hinge section

131 c , 231 d , 331 c connection convex section

131 d , 231 e , 331 d connection concave section

131 e through hole

132 , 232 , 332 outer peripheral rib

132 - 1 , 232 - 1 , 332 - 1 opening side surface

132 - 2 , 232 - 2 , 332 - 2 opposite side surface

132 a , 232 a , 232 b , 332 a rib portion

132 a - 1 projecting section

133 , 233 , 333 exit flange

133 a , 233 a , 333 a flange portion

231 a wide tube portion

231 b narrow tube portion

A 31 predetermined range

H 31 , H 32 rib height

D 11 inner circumferential direction

D 12 , D 14 , D 24 , D 34 axial direction

D 13 , D 23 , D 33 circumferential direction

D 15 drop direction

W 11 wiring harness